Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Must-Have Kitchen Tools & Gadgets
20
items I cook almost every night, so I'm picky about what earns a permanent spot in my kitchen. These are the tools and gadgets I actually reach for — tried-and-tested essentials from brands like KitchenAid, Le Creuset, All-Clad, Instant Pot, Ninja, and Zwi...
Sections
5
Cookware (Pots, Pans & Skillets)
Knives & Cutting Tools
Small Appliances
Prep Tools & Gadgets
Dinnerware & Storage
Cookware (Pots, Pans & Skillets)
The pots, pans, and skillets that actually get used on my stove every week, from a splurge-worthy Dutch oven to an everyday cast iron skillet.
This is the one splurge I don't regret, I use it for literally every braise, stew, and my Sunday no-knead bread. It's heavy so make sure you have counter space cleared before you try to lift it one-handed.
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5qt Cerise
My go-to for searing anything, it heats so evenly that I rarely get hot spots anymore. Takes a bit more elbow grease to clean than nonstick, but the sear you get is worth it.
All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12" Frying Pan with Lid
This is what I recommend to anyone just building out their kitchen, the heat indicator dot actually works and saves your eggs from sticking. Not as durable long-term as my All-Clad, but incredible value for the price.
T-Fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Fry Pan Set
Rated 4.6 stars with 144.7K reviews and 5K+ bought in the past month on Amazon. A budget cast iron classic that works on the stove, oven, grill, or campfire and gets better with age.
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet 10.25 Inches
Knives & Cutting Tools
Everything I use to prep, chop, and slice, chef's knives, a full knife set, cutting boards, and a peeler that gets more use than it should.
Every chef I know seems to own this exact knife and now I understand why, it stays sharp so much longer than knives twice the price. The handle isn't fancy but it's genuinely the most comfortable grip I've used.
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 10" Chef's Knife
I reach for this one when I want something lighter and more precise than my full-size chef's knife, especially for slicing herbs and thin veggies. It's razor sharp out of the box so be careful the first few times.
ZWILLING Pro 7-inch Slim Chef's Knife
Sounds boring but this peeler genuinely changed how fast I prep vegetables, it glides through skins with almost no pressure needed. The built-in eye remover on the end is more useful than I expected.
OXO Good Grips Swivel Vegetable Peeler
These color-coded boards keep me from cross-contaminating meat and produce without thinking twice, and they store flat in the included caddy so my cabinet stays organized. They're on the thinner side so they can warp slightly if left wet.
Joseph Joseph Folio 4-Piece Cutting Board Set, Graphite
This block covers basically every knife I could need, from paring to carving, and the steel holds an edge really well. It's a lot of knives for a small kitchen though, so make sure you actually have counter space for the block.
ZWILLING Twin Signature 19-pc Kitchen Knife Set
Small Appliances
The bigger machines that have earned a permanent spot on my counter or in my cabinet, from a stand mixer to my sous vide and pressure cookers.
I use this for everything from bread dough to whipped cream and it hasn't slowed down once in years of heavy use. It's heavy and stays out on my counter permanently since moving it around isn't fun.
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Porcelain White
This replaced my slow cooker, rice cooker, and pressure cooker all at once, which freed up so much cabinet space. The sealing ring can hold onto smells so I keep a spare one just for desserts.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Cooker
I keep this smaller size at our second home since it's easier to store and still handles weeknight dinners for two just fine. If you're cooking for a bigger family, size up from this one.
Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker
This took the guesswork out of cooking steak and eggs for me, I just set the app and walk away. It does take up a chunk of drawer space and needs a big enough pot to clip onto.
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano 2.0
Boils water faster than I expected for the price, and the auto shutoff means I've never had to worry about leaving it on. It's not the quietest kettle, so don't expect a peaceful boil at 6am.
Hamilton Beach 1.7L Electric Tea Kettle
Prep Tools & Gadgets
Smaller tools I reach for constantly to speed up everyday cooking and meal prep, blenders, a food processor, and a salad spinner.
This crushes ice for smoothies without leaving any chunks, which is the main thing I need from a blender. It's loud enough that I avoid using it super early before anyone else is awake.
Ninja Professional Plus Blender 1400W BN701
This is the blender I keep at my parents' place and it still handles smoothies and shakes just fine even at a lower wattage than my main one. The pitcher is big enough to make a batch for the whole family.
Ninja Professional Blender 1000W 72oz
I use this almost daily now, it gets lettuce and herbs so much drier than paper towels ever did. The pump mechanism is satisfying but takes up more cabinet space than a basic colander would.
OXO Good Grips Salad & Lettuce Spinner
This has replaced so much manual chopping and shredding for me, especially when I'm prepping for a big dinner. It's got a lot of parts to wash after, so I only pull it out when I'm processing enough to make that worth it.
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor
Dinnerware & Storage
What I actually serve and store food in day to day, a dinnerware set that's survived years of dinner parties and glass containers that replaced all my plastic.
This is the set we've used for every dinner party since we got married, still looks great after years of dishwasher cycles. The embossed pattern means you have to be a little more careful about chips on the edges.
Pfaltzgraff Josephine 24-Piece Dinnerware Set
These are what I actually reach for over plastic now, no staining from tomato sauce and they go straight from fridge to microwave. The lids can be a little tricky to snap on just right at first.
Pyrex Simply Store 12-Pack Glass Containers